If it feels like nearly everything in the grocery store is processed these days… you’re not wrong.

From “healthy” granola bars to protein-packed pastas and plant-based nuggets, more and more of what we eat is falling into a category known as ultra-processed foods — and it’s changing the way we think about health.

So, what does “ultra-processed” actually mean? And should you be worried? Let’s break it down.

First things first: what is an ultra-processed food?

Not all processing is bad. Washing, freezing, even fermenting can be helpful forms of food processing. But ultra-processed foods (UPFs) go several steps further. These are products that are made mostly from ingredients you wouldn’t normally cook with at home — like protein isolates, added sugars, industrial seed oils, gums, flavorings, or preservatives.

They’re designed to be shelf-stable, cheap to produce, and hard to stop eating. And they’re everywhere — snacks, frozen meals, cereals, sodas, even some foods marketed as “healthy” or “plant-based.”

Why ultra-processed foods are having a moment

There’s no denying that UPFs are convenient. In a world where everyone’s busy and everything is expensive, a ready-to-eat meal with a long shelf life can feel like a win. But we’re also starting to see the bigger picture: diets high in ultra-processed foods are being linked to some major health concerns.

Research has connected UPF-heavy diets with higher rates of obesity, heart disease, inflammation, depression, and anxiety. A recent study even found that over 70% of the food supply in the U.S. is ultra-processed — and most of us are eating far more of it than we realize.

(We covered the link between UPFs and inflammation in this blog post, and how they can affect your mental health in this one — both are worth a read if you want to dig deeper.)

What does this mean for your everyday food choices?

It’s not about perfection. It’s about knowing what you’re eating, and making more informed choices — especially when the label says things like “natural,” “light,” or “made with whole grains.”

We always tell people: the best place to start is by adding more whole or minimally processed foods to your meals. Think fruits and veggies, whole grains, beans, eggs, fish, and real dairy — foods that still look like food.

And when you do reach for something packaged? Knowing how it’s made can make a big difference.

So how do you actually tell what’s ultra-processed?

We get it — reading labels is confusing, and you don’t have time to Google every ingredient. That’s why we built the WISEcode app.

It’s a free tool that lets you scan, search, or browse your favorite grocery products and see how processed they really are. We’ve rated over 500 foods from 40+ brands and 20 retailers — so you don’t have to guess.

Whether you’re comparing plant-based nuggets or looking for the least processed frozen pizza, WISEcode helps you shop smarter, faster.

Bottom line

Ultra-processed foods aren’t going away anytime soon — but that doesn’t mean we’re powerless. The more we understand what we’re eating, the easier it becomes to take back control.

It’s not about shame or fear. It’s about being empowered, asking better questions, and bringing a little more real food back to the table.

Want to go deeper?
Check out more food transparency blog posts here, or download the WISEcode app to see how the foods in your cart stack up.